Challenges Encountered by Secondary Teachers in Teaching Students at Tiong Hen So Memorial High School Amidst the Pandemic

AUTHOR(S)

JAN JULIUS B. FOSTER

ABSTRACT

— — “Education in the New Normal” started from the school year 2020-2021. Face to face learning engagement of students and teachers within school classrooms is not yet allowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic brought momentous challenges to students, parents and most especially to teachers. The key purpose of this research is to find out the challenges encountered by secondary teachers and how they overcome them. Purposive sampling was used in selecting 8 secondary teachers that participated in the study. The researcher used FGD (Focal Group Discussion) and semi-structured interview to seek the in-depth information that that revealed the current situation on how the informants responded to it. Phenomenological data analysis was utilized to analyze and interpret the results of this study. The main challenges that emerged were poor parental support, child labor, lack of interest/priorities, teenage pregnancy, availability of materials, unfinished modules/LAS and poor time management. Tiong Hen So Memorial High School may utilize the results in designing Professional Developmental trainings/programs to capacitate the teacher’s capability in the new normal of education. This can also serve as springboard data in conducting related study in Elementary level. Keywords –Secondary Teachers, Challenges, New Normal